NAIA Football Players of the Week – No. 11 (Nov. 11)

Bartman, Bray and Phillips honored with NAIA football weekly awards

November 11, 2013

By: Sam Knehans, Communications & Sports Information Intern

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Theo Bartman of Northwestern (Iowa) is named the NAIA Football National Offensive Player of the Week; Antonio Bray of Sterling (Kan.) is tabbed as the NAIA Football National Special Teams Player of the Week and Ty Phillips of Missouri Valley is recognized as the NAIA Football National Defensive Player of the Week, the national office announced Monday. The trio was chosen for their performances during the week of Nov. 4 – 10 and each was selected from a pool of conference and independent award winners.

Bartman, a senior running back from Rock Valley, Iowa, rushed for 123 yards and a career-best four touchdowns as Northwester (Iowa) defeated then-No. 1 Morningside (Iowa), 38-28. With his performance, Bartman moves into ninth place on Northwestern’s all-time list with 26 career rushing touchdowns. The senior, who had a career-high 33 carries in the contest, also added 57 receiving yards on four catches. This season, Bartman has been a key cog in the Northwestern offense, leading the team in rushing yards (640), touchdowns (11) and all-purpose yards (1,048) while ranking among top 25 nationally in scoring per game (13th, 9.7 points) and all-purpose yards per game (14th, 149.7).

Bray, a junior from Van Nuys, Calif., scored his third 100-yard kickoff return touchdown of the season as Sterling crushed Southwestern (Kan.), 48-14. On offense, the junior, who also sees time at running back, rushed for 218 yards and three touchdowns on thirteen carries. In all, he accounted for 418 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns, leading the Warriors in both categories. For the season, Bray leads the team in all-purpose yards (1,905) and touchdowns (16). He also ranks among the top 10 in the NAIA in kickoff return yards per attempt (1st, 34.5), all-purpose yards (3rd, 1,905), all-purpose yards per game (4th, 190.5), total kickoff return yards (4th, 759) and total scoring (9th, 96 points).

Phillips, a junior defensive lineman from East St. Louis, Ill., led Missouri Valley with seven tackles —including five solo—as the Vikings defeated then-No. 4 Benedictine (Kan.), 42-14. The junior also recorded 3.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for a loss in the matchup, anchoring the Missouri Valley defensive front that gave up just seven rushing yards all game. Phillips leads the Vikings in tackles (51), tackles for a loss (21) and sacks (8) on the season. He also ranks among the national leaders in tackles for a loss per game (1st, 2.6), tackles for a loss (3rd, 21), sacks per game (6th, 1), fumbles forced per game (10th, .3) and total sacks (12th, 8).

For a complete list of all the national statistical leaders, click here.